In the last couple of decades, this trend has been observed: many children are born with indicators above the average (height and weight). 4 kilograms - this figure does not scare anyone. However, a large fruit is not so bad. It is much worse when a baby is born with a critical body weight. Although there are also a lot of nuances, the viability of the fetus depends not only on weight, but also on the duration of pregnancy.
According to the WHO, very low body weight is considered not to reach 2 kilograms (2.1 kg for boys). Although there are cases when children were born with a weight of less than 500 grams and they managed to survive. Of course, these are exceptions to the rules.
This article will focus on the smallest children in the world who managed to survive. All of them were born prematurely, but thanks to the efforts of the medical staff, these guys are now enjoying life.
List
- 10. Willow Ludden Brooks, 450 g
- 9. Nathan Siberras, 435 g
- 8. Alexis Clarke, 312 g
- 7. Amalia Sonia Taylor, 284 g
- 6. Madeline Mann, 280 g
- 5. Kenna Moore, 272 g
- 4. Melinda Star Guido, 269 g
- 3. Tom Tamb, 269 g
- 2. Rumaisa Rahman, 244 g
- 1. Emilia Grabarchik, 226 g
10. Willow Ludden Brooks, 450 g
Willow Ludden brooks - a native of Great Britain. The girl was born in 2009, the gestational age was 23 weeks. An intrauterine infection was found in the mother. It was she who caused the premature birth. Doctors were 90% sure that the child could not be saved. Surprisingly, Willow was able to take a breath, she even had the strength to cry.
At first, the press closely watched the life of the girl. She was quite healthy, of course, it took a lot of time to spend in the hospital. Now nothing is known about her, but we hope that Willow is doing well.
9. Nathan Siberras, 435 g
Another case that occurred in the UK, in Southampton. Nathan Siberras born at 24 weeks. This happened in 2008. Doctors gave one chance in a million, but the boy managed to use it. By the way, his name translates as "God's gift».
Despite the short period, he was able to breathe on his own. Nathan was placed in an incubator and spent a lot of time there. Parents of Siberras experienced many difficult moments, doctors did not give any guarantees, the boy’s life could end at any moment.
Apparently he was born under a happy star. After a few weeks he was discharged. Nathan had a very good appetite, he began to grow by leaps and bounds. Soon, the boy was almost as tall as his older brother, by the way, the difference between them was 4 years.
8. Alexis Clarke, 312 g
This event took place in San Diego in 2013. A little girl was born, whose weight was slightly more than 300 g. Little is known about her. Apparently, her parents are not one of those who like to communicate with media representatives. The term was only 25 weeks, the chances of survival were, but insignificant.
The girl spent six months in the hospital, after which she was nevertheless released to the family. Mom Lori Clark calls her an angel and thanks her fate for the fact that Alexis survived, although her life has been hanging by a thread more than once.
7. Amalia Sonia Taylor, 284 g
Some time Amalia Sonia Taylor from the United States was considered a record holder among other premature babies. Not surprisingly, birth weight is 284 gamma (21 weeks). The girl was born in 2006.
Her mothers were infertile, but the woman did not give up, she hoped that fate would give her a child. There were many attempts, and the lucky woman still managed to get pregnant. It was a real miracle. But she could not bear the child. Amalia spent six months in the incubator, she had many health problems. She was discharged with a weight of 1.8 kg.
In the future, she was somewhat behind in development from her peers. Physical and mental indicators were not normal, but Sonya Taylor's parents did not despair. Now the girl is 13 years old. There is no information about her on the network; the family carefully avoids talking to reporters.
6. Madeline Mann, 280 g
Madeline Mann born in 1989. It is this story that is worth telling to women who are worried about the life of their child. Indeed, at that time medicine had not yet reached such a level as it is now.
Madeline's mother developed preeclampsia, and doctors were forced to undergo an emergency operation. Mann was born using cesarean section. Big health problems. She was forced to spend 4 months in the hospital. When Mann was discharged, she weighed about 2 kilograms.
In the future, all health difficulties remained in the past. Madeline was no different from her peers. She was educated, became a psychologist. Having grown up, Mann kept her miniature, at 20 she weighed 32 kg (with an increase of 1.30 m).
5. Kenna Moore, 272 g
Kenna Moore was born in the city of Charlotte (USA). Pregnancy was initially problematic. Doctors suggested that Kenna's mother have an abortion, as the abnormality was found in the fetus. The woman refused, but at 24 weeks had to have a cesarean section.
Surprisingly to the doctors, the child showed signs of life, but Kenna could not breathe on her own. She underwent several operations, each of them could cost her life, but nothing happened. The size of Moore did not exceed the palm of an adult, she could well fit on it.
She spent six months in an artificial therapy apparatus. When the girl’s weight reached 3 kilograms, she was discharged from the hospital.
4. Melinda Star Guido, 269 g
This incident occurred in 2011. Melinda Born in Los Angeles at 24 weeks. The parents of the girl begged the doctors to save her, because they had already lost one child. The doctors made no promises; they themselves did not believe that the little patient would be able to survive.
She spent a long time in the incubator, could not breathe and eat on her own. Melinda's mother did not want to leave her daughter for a minute, she was around the clock. Perhaps her prayers helped, but after a while the girl's weight reached the required mark (2 kg), and she was discharged.
3. Tom Tamb, 269 g
In 2009, Germany was born Tom Tamb. At week 25, his mother had an emergency operation. Doctors found serious abnormalities that occurred during pregnancy, it was impossible to procrastinate. 5 months in the intensive care unit were not in vain. During this time, Tom has grown significantly. At discharge, he weighed 3200 g.
2. Rumaisa Rahman, 244 g
In 2004, an equally unique case occurred in the state of Illinois (USA). Two tiny twins were born Hiba and Rumaisa. The weight of the first was 563 grams. Of course, they worried for her life, but not as much as for the life of Rumaisa's sister. She weighed 244 grams, her growth was 24 centimeters.
The health status of the sisters left much to be desired, eyesight was severely damaged, they even had laser correction. At 2.5 months they were able to eat on their own (from a bottle). Soon Rumaisa caught up with her sister.
The girls were discharged from the hospital after six months. Subsequently, they did not differ from their peers in either physical or mental development.
1. Emilia Grabarchik, 226 g
Emilia Grabarchik proudly bears the "title" of the smallest premature baby who managed to survive. This story happened in Germany in 2016. Lucas and Sabina Grabarchik had to make a difficult choice: agree to an urgent cesarean or continue to bear.
At any time, Emilia could die in the womb, there were problems with the placenta and nutrition of the baby. Parents decided to take a chance and try to save their daughter. Sabine underwent a cesarean section at 26 weeks of gestation. The fetal weight was much less than expected, but the doctors still decided to fight for the life of the child.
This case is called unique, because the chances of survival were negligible. Fortunately, it all ended well.